Wide-open spaces? Gore anticipates less congestion in 2011

And so is his outlook as he anticipates a season free of we’re-going-to-play-smashmouth-try-to-stop-it offensive football.

In this interview with SI.com, the Niners’ running back expressed confidence in Jim Harbaugh’s ability to make opposing defenses respect the pass and, in turn, divert some of their attention from Gore, whose 4.2 yards per carry last year matched a career-low.

“He’s just going to get me catching the ball more and getting me a lot of space,” Gore said. “He’ll be doing a lot of different things instead of the eight or nine men in the box. He’s just trying to get the box loosened up for me.”

The box, of course, was clogged with humanity during Mike Singletary’s two seasons as head coach. Singletary routinely trumpeted his run-first philosophy and defenses (surprise!) routinely keyed on Gore. Since 2009, Gore has averaged fewer than three yards per attempt in nine of the 24 games (38 percent) in which he’s had at least 10 carries.

Singletary was also criticized for leaning too heavily on Gore, who missed the final five games of 2010 with a fractured hip and has missed nine games over the past three seasons due to injury. On that topic, it remains to be seen if Harbaugh will be giving the bell cow additional breathers.

Gore doesn’t sound like he’s prepared to cede much of the stage to Anthony Dixon or rookie Kendall Hunter.

“(Harbaugh) told me that before I left to make sure that I’m in great shape after the lockout because he’ll be counting on me this year,” Gore said. “He also told me the way he’s going to use me and show the whole world that I’m the best back in the league.”

Harbaugh has a history of making extensive use of elite running backs. He had two All-American backs in seven seasons as a college coach — Stanford’s Toby Gerhart and the University of San Diego’s Evan Harney — and both had seasons in which they ranked among the top three in the nation in carries per game.

Since taking over in San Francisco, Harbaugh has declared his respect for Gore’s ability while indicating the 28-year-old back will be doing the heavy lifting.

During a fan forum in February, Harbaugh spoke glowingly about Dixon’s potential before adding, “But it won’t the type of thing where we’re going to have Frank Gore coming off the field too much because he’s one of the best backs in the league in my opinion.”

It sounds as if Gore’s hip is ready for action.

Asked about his injury, which he’s been rehabbing this offseason in Miami, and Gore said it “felt great.” His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was more effusive in his medical outlook on Twitter this morning, “Frank Gore is 100% healthy. His hip is perfect. He is looking forward to having his best season in ’11.”

Could Drew possibly be rooting with his wallet? As ESPN’s Mike Sando noted in a follow-up to Rosenhaus’ tweet, Gore is entering a contract year.